IFS Food Doctrines
IFS Food 8 audits
can start now!
IFS Food Doctrines
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𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝟳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟴!
IFS Food Doctrines
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Today, we are happy to announce the publication of IFS Food version 8. The IFS Food Standard reviews the products and production processes to evaluate a food producer’s ability to produce safe, authentic, and quality products according to legal requirements and customer specifications.

“IFS Food version 8 is the result of a remarkable, global team effort. We have taken up the feedback from our global network and updated the standard to current events and expectations in the broad field of food safety. Many renowned experts from retailers, food producers and certification bodies in our committees and working groups have contributed their expertise to further optimise the standard according to the needs of the market. I am convinced that version 8 sets a new standard and will contribute to establishing a vivid food safety culture”, says Stephan Tromp, IFS Managing Director.

 

The new version is state of the art in terms of food safety

In this new version, you will find an optimised protocol, a new definition of the B-scoring, and the introduction of a star status to highlight unannounced audits. These updates facilitate efficient working with the standard for all parties involved.

“The IFS Food Standard is designed to promote continuous improvement of the companies certified to it. Accordingly, we at IFS have the ambition to continually adapt and enhance it further. This way, our certified companies and other stakeholders can rely on us to be in tune with the latest developments”, adds Chryssa Dimitriadis, Director of Standard Management at IFS.

 

21 years of providing high-quality, widely accepted and trusted standards

We launched the first IFS Food Standard 21 years ago. Having over 20,000 IFS Food Certificates today, IFS has become a leading standard worldwide and the market leader in Europe. As a joint venture of two leading retail associations, major retail and wholesale companies trust our standards fit their specific needs. Also, key food services companies are convinced of the quality of our standards and work with us. They all know that we set the highest standards in auditor qualification and have a strong and consistent integrity program. It contributes to the high quality and reliability of our certification. Also, it ensures that consumers find safe and good quality private label products in their stores.

 

IFS-certified companies benefit from a unique support package

IFS offers guidance, like guidelines and various tools, to support suppliers in reaching IFS Food Certification and further enhancing their food safety and quality management. Approved IFS Training Providers offer training based on IFS Materials, and recognised IFS Consultants can support you with implementing the requirements and training your staff.

 

International recognition

IFS Food version 8 accreditation process is in progress with the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) in order to be recognised under the sub-scopes of product certification of the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA). IAF MLA signatories mutually recognise accredited certification. It helps to reduce barriers to trade and promote food safety, as accredited certificates are recognised in many markets based on a single accreditation.

IFS also has started the application procedure with GFSI and hopes to achieve recognition to the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements for IFS Food version 8 soon.

 

More information

The standard is available in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish on our website. We will provide further translations at a later stage and inform you accordingly.

For more information about the IFS Food Standard, please visit our IFS Food page.
For all significant information about Food version 8, read the whole newsletter here.

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About IFS

IFS develops globally recognised product quality and safety standards and development programs with the expertise of retailers, manufacturers, certification bodies and other experts. With our help, companies increase the trustworthiness of their products and brands through a practised product and food safety culture.

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2002
Foundation of IFS
> 40
Employees worldwide
2000+
Retail Accounts
> 30000
Certificates & LoCs

Quality Assurance and Integrity Program

The IFS Integrity Program ensures that our standards are properly implemented.

This is guaranteed by:

  • Integrity on-site checks,
  • Integrity witness audits,
  • and CB office audits.

In case of complaints, it is possible to reach IFS IP via the complaint-form or e-mail.

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Accreditation & Recognition

With the accreditation of the certification bodies working with us and the IFS Standards, we ensure that our work is based on uniform international norms and thus on objectively verifiable quality standards. For us, accreditation means security and trust in our products.

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Sustainability / ESG

Making processes, structures, and business models more sustainable is a constant challenge for many companies. To help especially small and medium-sized companies integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, IFS offers the ESG Check. With this tool, we support you on your way to a greener and more socially responsible future.

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Product integrity / PIA

Ensure product integrity with IFS. We help you better understand and control risks relating to product integrity and food fraud. With our IFS PIA Assessment, you show your customer that you deliver products to specifications and manage your integrity risks properly.

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IFS News

IFS Food 8 audits can start now

It is now possible to perform audits according to IFS Food version 8. For a period of three months, it is possible to perform an audit to either version 7 or version 8. IFS Food 8 audits will become mandatory for all certified companies from 1 January 2024. 

The applicability of version 2 ends on 31 December 2023; only in exceptional cases may they be performed after this date. These exceptions are specified in the current IFS Food Doctrines for version 7 and version 8.

The update of the IFS Software auditXpress Neo (AXP Neo) for IFS Food 8 is already available. It significantly facilitates the reporting of internal audits and is free of charge. The new software is fast, intuitive, and clearly arranged. It facilitates the collaboration between audited companies and the certification body, that uses the same software.

Businesses certified to the IFS Food Standard find AXP Neo for downloading in the login area of the IFS Database. We have also made this software available to CBs approved for IFS Food and auditors who did the version 8 conversion training. 

On our IFS YouTube channel, you can watch our video that gives you an overview of the most important changes in version 8 compared to version 7. For more details, download the IFS Food version 7 and version 8 comparison document.

The IFS Food Standard page provides all relevant information about the standard, the roadmap to certification and all relevant documents for downloading from the document hub. Be sure to visit this page to be excellently prepared for your first IFS Food 8 audit.


New doctrine for HPC version 3!

We recently published the doctrine for IFS HPC version 3. In this document, we answer frequently asked technical questions and give clarifications about the requirements.

The doctrine is a normative document complementing the standard. Accordingly, companies, certification bodies and auditors must follow the clarifications contained therein. 


Among other topics, you will find more details regarding specific exceptional situations in which the audit to version 2 can be accepted after 1 September 2023.  


Make sure to download the doctrine for IFS HPC version 3 before your next audit. 

 


Check the technical clarifications in the new IFS Food Doctrines

We recently published the doctrines for IFS Food version 7 and version 8.

In these documents, we answer frequently asked technical questions and give clarifications about the requirements. The doctrines are normative documents complementing the standard. Accordingly, companies, certification bodies and auditors must follow the clarifications contained therein.

Among other topics, you will find more details regarding specific exceptional situations in which the assessment to version 7 can be accepted after 1 January 2024. Also, we clarified the information you need to provide in the extraordinary information form related to IFS Food 8 requirement 1.2.6.

Make sure to download the doctrine for IFS Food version 7 and for IFS Food version 8 before your next audit.

 

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